Celebrity deaths in 2026: Remembering the famous people we lost this year

Scott Adams worked at a telephone company in the 1980s. The experience inspired his beloved comic strip, "Dilbert."

By the end of the decade, the character and his satirical office humor began appearing in comic strips. The success led to other hits like "Loser," "Here Without You," and "When I'm Gone." Arnold's vocal range and lyrics focused on love and love lost.

What Happened

A hip-hop pioneer during the 1970s and 1980s, Lance Taylor, known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa, first gained attention as a DJ in the Bronx. Bambaataa founded the hip-hop awareness group, Universal Zulu Nation, in the 1970s to steer kids away from gang.

• At its peak, "Dilbert" was syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers.

• A cartoon series debuted in 1999, running for two seasons.

• Adams gained notoriety when he began writing blog posts praising Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run.

Key Details

One of the icons responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstram, Rob Bass crafted the iconic track "It Takes Two" alongside DJ E-Z Rock. Nicholas Brendon was a television actor, best known for playing Xander Harris in all seven seasons of "Buffy.

• In 2023, "Dilbert" was pulled from newspapers across the US following racist comments made by Adams.

• The lead singer of 3 Doors Down, Brad Arnold launched the group into fame with the 2000 rock anthem "Kryptonite," which peaked at No.

• He signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and released landmark songs like "Jazzy Sensation" and "Planet Rock." He would go on to influence the likes of Queen Latifah and A Tribe Called Quest.

Why It Matters

Brendon died in his sleep on March 20 due to natural causes, according to his family's statement. He also had cauda equina syndrome, which led to several spinal surgeries."While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on.

• Bambaataa stepped down as the head of the organization in 2016 after accusations of sexual abuse.

• The track, released in 1988, reached No.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• In 1989, it was voted the greatest single of all time by Spin magazine.

• In 2023, Brendon suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.

• Continued reporting by Business Insider as more details emerge